Creating An Intentional Community

     The idea of an intentional community has been on my mind for several years now.  Some friends joked that is what I was doing when I moved from Vancouver to Kelowna, "Starting the off grid community".  At the time I thought of it as a joke.  But now, one year later I am no closer to my dream and do not have a community.  Last night though I did feel very inspired by visiting one.  Largely it is made up of family members who seem to like to get together and enjoy or help one another.  I am an outsider but everyone there made me feel so welcome and like a cherished member of the group.  There where lots of people there who where not direct family members too.  There where even people from New Zealand and China.  The celebration was for the Shetland Island tradition Up Helly Aa.  It was my first time seeing this boat burning yearly event and it was a lot of fun.

     This was my third visit to this particular farm.  Imagine a decent amount of healthy cows out in a free pasture.  Calves growing up alongside their mothers.  A few horses (yes a Shetland pony too), space for chickens although I did not see any, strong silent dogs who watch over the kids while waiting patiently for a treat to be dropped by little hands.  The last time I was at the farm someone told me that when the female Boarder Collie had babies, the the pups went to friends who knew what a great temperament their little fluff-ball would inherit.  Little human bodies in thick snow suites are everywhere, cousins and close family friends slide down the snow hill together.  Most people have travelled with a full vehicle and are coming out of their cars holding dishes covered in tea towels.  Matriarchs have their elbows held as they make their way to the hay ride.  Torches are being handed to the men to light the way and the smell of cinnamon and wine are everywhere.

      After the boat burning, many colourful casserole dishes with family style foods decorated a rough board counter in the barn.  Chillies, buns with grandma's hand print in them, jars of local fruit jams, a trough filled with ice and beverages, mulled wine cooking on an outdoor fire, and long rough home-made tables with old chairs or rough benches.  Kids ran wild helping themselves to anything and everything.  Older men and women stayed close to the indoor cast iron stove making sure that everyone had their fill.  After dinner, those who played instruments sat in the larger part of the barn for the dance.  Violin, fiddle, and wind instruments filled the air until a little woodpecker shot out of the rafters.  The party is started!   Some people actually knew how to dance in a Celtic style.  The kids followed along quickly, a lot of people danced in circles holding hands, shy folks sat on the handmade benches clapping and smiling.  One boy had some break dancing skills and would lay in the middle of the floor and kick his legs to the music.  Everyone was happy.  Nobody went cold or hungry.  My heart was full as well as my eyes.

      This morning I keep thinking back on conversations I had with people.  The relatives where quick to tell me which house they lived in or currently reside.  It seems like a lot of the people all have at some point lived on that piece of land.    I am so hungry for that kind of life.  I look around my big house and think that I really only need about half of the space I have.  I could easily share this home with another family.  The basement could also house 2 families who did not need a lot of personal space.  Could this house be where I start?

     My goal is to come up with some plan.  A flexible guide for what life could be for me and a group of like minded folks.  I need to spread the word.  Find a few families who would like their kids to know what community spirit really is and is willing to leave "luxury" for something else.  I do not have children, but like the idea of most of the people around me doing this for their kids.  Teaching them survival skills and how to work together with others for the greater good.  So with a plan in place, I look at property.  How many acres and how many families?  Then with some idea of what it will take to make this all happen, invite people I know to make the change with me.  Maybe I can find others and maybe not.  If not then the risk will have to be mine alone.  I do have to remember though that there are a lot of great people who are already living this way who I can learn from and fit in with.  However it ends up...it will be for the best.  In the meantime though I will keep trying to connect with and keep my heart open to great folks like I met last night.  It keeps my dream alive.